Penn State Mural Artist Paints For 9/11

STATE COLLEGE — The 11th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States is Tuesday and one man in State College is doing his part to remember them.

The artist who painted the famous mural in State College is holding a vigil at the site of his work.

At Penn State’s main campus, students came out to watch as artist Michael Pilato worked on his mural that is displayed on a wall just off College Avenue.

Many said they are fascinated by all that he has created.

“I actually walk by this anytime I get an opportunity to in order to really appreciate everything that Penn State has to offer, “ said junior Dillon Sedaghatpor.

But Pilato is there for a bigger purpose. Each year to mark the terrorist attacks on September 11, Pilato spends 48 hourst here painting.

Plato adds new images to his mural on every anniversary, since he was here working on that day 11 years ago.

“I was out here and then people were coming out because they were watching it on the news in there and we ran in a saw it,” said Pilato. “And I just started to paint because I just felt it and by the time of was done it was 48 hours.”

Students said each year they look forward to returning after the vigil to see the finished paintings.

This year, Pilato is adding the portrait of Penn State graduate Michael Murphy, a Navy SEAL who was killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2005.

Murphy was given the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save his team.

“He was trying to radio for help and he wasn’t in the range where he could do that so he had to go into enemy fire to make that call,” said Pilato.

“With the eleventh anniversary tomorrow I think it’s great he’s adding stuff that has to do with 9/11,” said freshman Brett Duvernois.

“He’s doing some amazing work for a 9/11 memorial and I just want to see what kind of work he’s done for the day, and I’ll be back tomorrow to see what else he’s done,” said Sedaghatpor.

Pilato says he will be at the mural in State College until about 1 p.m. Wednesday.